Am I the only REAL newb?
by sokmunki · in Torque Game Engine Advanced · 01/12/2007 (7:47 pm) · 6 replies
Am I the ONLY person here that is JUST getting started? I'm not saying I have 13 years of C++ coding experience and I'm just getting started with the Torque Game Engine. I'm not saying that I've been working with writing games in Java for the past 5 years and I've just picked up the TGE. I mean I am starting from scratch! No experience at all. I would say about 99% of the content of the forums makes very little sense. I have read both editions of 3D Game Programming All in One and they have indeed increased my conceptual knowledge of game creation a great deal, but whenever I start to think I can tinker with something, I always get some strange error and I have no idea why. Occasionally, it's addressed in the forums but usually in the form of "Oh that's an easy fix: you just have to link your whatcha-macallit to your doo-hicky function and that should do it." I feel like the two year old that annoys everyone with repetitively asking why. No, I haven't posted any questions of my own because there is just soooo much info on these forums - and I don't understand more than a grain of it - and I have soooo many questions. It seems that most of the users here are very advanced, and while the community seems VERY helpful, I understand there is a limit to patience. I would love to talk to someone that's only a few months further down the road than I am. Someone that can still relate to what it feels like when EVERYTHING is new. I'm frustrated. Some people may say "it's not for everyone" or "give up", but I'm WAY too stubborn for that. I'll still be tinkering 10 years from now even if I'm still failing. I guess I need to get a degree in C++...
Thanks for understanding and letting me get out a little frustration.
Thanks for understanding and letting me get out a little frustration.
#2
One of the greatest things about Torque is the community. If you have a question search the forums, if that fails, make a post and ask.
I have yet to encounter a problem that I could not figure out with either a forum search or a quick post or email.
Good luck guys, and in case no one has said it yet, Welcome to the community.
01/12/2007 (9:02 pm)
We have all been there at one time or another. Baby steps, one small thing at a time, and before long you will be running.One of the greatest things about Torque is the community. If you have a question search the forums, if that fails, make a post and ask.
I have yet to encounter a problem that I could not figure out with either a forum search or a quick post or email.
Good luck guys, and in case no one has said it yet, Welcome to the community.
#3
Don't give in, just take it piece by piece. In some ways, it may be better to work with TGE at first, since there are literally hundreds of "tweak resources" to do interesting little things that will signifigantly help you learn small parts of what the engine is doing.
Enough time and effort, and research, and it will start to fall into place :)
01/12/2007 (11:17 pm)
It took me 4 solid months of studying Torque daily, picking systems apart piece by piece to get a feel for what the hell was going on. 8 months later, I was an employee!Don't give in, just take it piece by piece. In some ways, it may be better to work with TGE at first, since there are literally hundreds of "tweak resources" to do interesting little things that will signifigantly help you learn small parts of what the engine is doing.
Enough time and effort, and research, and it will start to fall into place :)
#4
01/13/2007 (3:39 am)
Don't give up sokmunki!! Keep finding stuff out and KEEP ASKING!
#5
01/13/2007 (7:14 am)
Yes, I understand what your feeling. I have no computer background whatsoever myself. I have been fooling around with TGE for some time. I think I have gotten to the point of just understanding the basics. What helped me a lot was reading and getting TGB and working through a lot of the demos. I have come to a realization for myself. I do not really need to be a torque wizard or C++ junkie. There are enough of them around who are willing to help or point you in the right direction. I have decided to start to learn python, the stuff that Josh Ritter has done is amazing. I have found just learning the basic hello world stuff makes understanding the torque script and C++ a little better too. I wish I could dedicate more time to learning this stuff but I just to this at a few nights a week. It's a blast when you get one of your ideas to work and see it driving/walking around.
#6
Thanks again!
-sokmunki
01/13/2007 (6:33 pm)
Thank you all SO much for your encouragement! It is a relief and a breath of fresh air to hear from all of you. I'm still a little too overwhelmed to know what questions I want to ask first, but it is such a relief to know that you guys are out there and are willing to answer. Thanks again!
-sokmunki
Torque 3D Owner Chris Harpan
Default Studio Name
To be honest, we all feel like new people at one time or another. It's all in how you handle it. Do you get frustrated and give up? Or do you dig your heels in, hang on and scream, "I'm not letting go, no matter what?" It's easy to get frustrated. It happens to be me all the time. Then I usually fire up a smoke, go outside, take a nice little bit of time to regroup myself, and head back in to figure out how to do what I need to do.
Game development isn't easy, otherwise everyone would be doing it. You have to be dedicated and you have to REALLY want it. It will take time, just realize that and you'll be one step ahead of all those other folks out there.